![Michelle defends Michelle defends](/application/files/8115/4456/4174/defence-michelle.jpg)
Here you see how PhD student Michèlle defends her thesis flanked by her two helpers (in Dutch: paranimfs) Laura and Laura.
The day before the thesis defence, a mini-symposium was organised at VU in which Michèlle already presented her work and discussed with the committee members. Most of the opponents also presented their work related to the source-to-sink changes of mineral dust, how to study this and why it matters.
![Michelle defends2 Michelle defends2](/application/files/9215/4456/5445/michelle-defends3.jpg)
A view from the audience (courtesy Frank Peeters, VU). On the left you see Michèlle answering the questions of the committee members sitting behind the table.
![Defence-selfie Defence-selfie](/application/files/6615/4456/5663/promo-selfie.jpg)
Seldom do you see a PhD committee that is so relaxed as this one; we were confident that Michèlle would do a great job!